Items of interest June 19, 1902 Issue

Items of Interest

Secretary Hay has received a cablegram from Minister Conger at Pekin to the effect that an agreement has practically been reached for the pro-rata reduction of the claims of the Powers against China, arising out of the Boxer outrages of 1900.

The amount of the indemnity agreed upon with China was 450,000,000 taels. Some months ago Secretary Hay was informed that certain European powers proposed to insist upon the payment of their claims in full, notwithstanding the fact that the total would amount to $343,000,000 which was $33,000,000 more than China had agreed to pay. He then proposed a pro rata reduction of the claims in order that they might be kept within the limit. The result achieved is considered a most important diplomatic victory.

In March the Spanish Claims Commission decided that the claims of the families of the Maine victims were merged into the national claim against Spain, and could not be regarded as claims of individuals. A bill is now pending in the House which provides relief for the families of the Maine victims. Secretary Moody has addressed a letter to the House in which he recommends that in case Congress decides to recognize the claims of families, the relief be afforded in the shape of a direct appropriation which course would do away with the expense of litigation to the claimants. The secretary cited a number of precedents for such action.

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